Left on the Prairie

one of the distant prairies of America. Of course, Jack was too small when he left to remember anything of England himself, but as he grew older he like

father would tell him about the trim green fields they had left so far behind them, and s

t a particularly nice place, they were very happy there. Longview was half-way between two large mining towns, sixty miles apart, and as there was no railway in

had no gardens in front to make them look pretty. In winter it was almost worse, for the cold winds came sweeping down from the distant mountains and rushed shrieking across

to America, in the first place, because times were so bad in England, and secondly, because Mrs. Wilson's only

into disfavour with his employers, and a year or two after the Wilsons came he took to drink, and made sad trouble for his wife and his three boys. George Wilson had expostulated with him often, and begged him

waggons, as there was no rail by which to send things. Sometimes, when he took extra long j

elpful boy for his age, and was devoted to his mother, who was far from strong. He got up early every morning, and did what are called the chores in America; these are all the small daily jobs that have to be done in a

rry Byrne, who lived quite close to his home. Jack was very fond of his Aunt Sue; she was so like his gentle mother. He

dest, who was a big fellow, nearly sixteen, told Jack that if it wasn't for his mother, he would run away from home and go off to be a cowboy, instead of worki

rn. He could see for miles, and when he spied the white top of the familiar waggon appearing in the distance, he would rush home shouting, 'Mo

well; Buck and Jerry in front as leaders, and Rufus and Billy harnessed to the waggon. George Wilson was very proud of his horses, and they

HELP HIS F

ARRIVE

e as time went on. She looked white and thin, and felt so tired and weary if she did any work, that her husband got alarmed and brought

fear, as it is. Go away to the mountains and try the bracing air up there; she may come back quite strong after a y

es of tonic from the doctor would restore her failing strength. But the medical warning could not be disregarded, a

uld be better not to take Jack with them. They would probably be moving on from place to place, and in a year he would forget all he had learnt at school. After a long consultation with A

and it was agreed that if they decided to stay in the mountains a

from him, and for a time he was quite inconsolable. His father talked very kindly and q

r mother is seriously ill, an' the only chanc

ed Jack, with tears in his eye

. It's only fur a year, so ye must try an' be a brave boy, an' stay with yer good Aunt Sue until we come back ag

ld be grand!' said

e to be done, an' ye must try an' keep up a good heart fur ye

s had to be sold out of the house, as they could not take much with them. The sale at first excited Jack, as so many people came to buy; but when he saw their

omfortable as possible for the sick mother. Aunt Sue packed up, as her sister was so weak, and the trial of leaving Jack was proving almost too much for her

in her trouble from that good woman, who knew well that the chief sorr

ope for the best. I have heard the air in them mountains is just wonderfu

look well after Jack. I know ye're fond o' him fur his own sake as well as min

ye know I manage to keep them out o' their father's way when he's too quarrelsome. Besides, Mat

dly; 'an' if all goes well we'll ha

concluded her sister cheerfully; 'an' Jack'l

. Before long his mother came softly into the room and stood beside him. She noticed the flushed, tear-stained face on the pillow, a

' cried Jack. 'What shall

ong again, we may make our home up near the grand mountains as ye've never seen. It's so different from this hot prairie,

ope ye'll send fur me soon, an' I'll try an' be good. I

'll see as ye come to no harm. But, oh! dearie, how I wish I could take ye

he excitement was for his mother, he made a great effort to stop crying, and, rub

t be goin' now, dearie, an' before I say good-night, will ye promise me not to forget

,' said Ja

taught ye sometimes, won't ye,

ed her wet cheek; and then she went away wi

murmured the boy to himself

ting waggon until it became like a speck in the distance. At last it vanished altogether, and then the boy's loss

OFF TO THE

HIS HEART W

comfort. She was so like his dear mother, with her sweet voice and gentle manner, that she soothed him in his trouble; a

een the boy before, and even he felt a bit sorry for the poor lad, so he said not ungraciou

ried to swallow the lump that would rise in his throat. The three boys came in for supper, and Hal and Larry looked curiously to see how Jack was ta

quietly after Jack, seeing that he had a good supper. He was very fond of his small cousin, who in return was devoted to

, which he was glad to do, and once there, he wa